Harish Rao flays Congress govt over Rs 100 cr guest house project

Former Finance Minister T Harish Rao accused the Congress government of extravagant spending while citing a shortage of funds for welfare schemes. He alleged that despite claiming the treasury was empty, the Chief Minister sanctioned a Rs 100 crore luxury guest house.

Hyderabad: Former Finance Minister T Harish Rao lashed out at the Congress government for its extravagant expenditure while citing shortage of funds for welfare and development programmes.

Interestingly, the Chief Minister repeatedly claimed that the State treasury lacked funds. In contrast, he was constructing a luxury guest house named ‘Bodhi Pavilion’ at a cost of nearly Rs. 100 crore close to his current residence in Jubilee Hills, he alleged.

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According to the former Minister, the VVIP guest house project was initially sanctioned at Rs. 7 crore, but it has now been escalated to a Rs. 100 crore facility. Nearly Rs.17 crore was being spent on fencing and Rs. 10 crore for the football ground, he charged.

“The Chief Minister is now spending nearly Rs.5 crore every month on helicopter travel, compared to the monthly hire charges of Rs. 2 crore in the past,” Harish Rao slammed.

If there was no money for fee reimbursement, farmers’ welfare, employees’ dues and welfare funds, how was the money being arranged for luxury guest houses and helicopter rides, he asked.

Compounding issues for common people, the Chief Minister was imposing financial burdens through increased RTA charges, registration fees, fuel taxes and other levies, he slammed.